16 NBA players test COVID-19 positive a month before restart

At the early stages of the novel Coronavirus pandemic, basketball was one of the most heavily affected sports. With the suspension of the National Basketball Association (NBA), many players had tested positive during the onset of COVID-19 back in March. Now after almost four months, when the resumption of basketball is just a month away, sixteen players from the NBA have been reported to test positive.

With the announcement to resume play on 30th July, NBA recently decided to start regular testing on all the players and staffs of each club, till the restart date.

“The NBA Comeback begins on Thursday, July 30th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida,” the league said on Friday.

With the latest round of testing done on 23rd June, where a total of 302 players were tested, 16 are confirmed to have contracted the virus.

“In tests conducted of 302 NBA players on June 23, 16 players have tested positive for the coronavirus,” NBA said in an official statement.

“Any player who tested positive will remain in self-isolation until he satisfies public health protocols for discontinuing isolation and has been cleared by a physician.” the statement further added.

While the NBA decided to keep the names of the affected 16 players classified, three of them have made their names public through official statements. The players are Malcolm Brogdon of Indiana Pacers and Jabari Parker and Alex Len, who both play for Sacramento Kings.

“I recently tested positive for the COVID virus and am currently in quarantine. I’m doing well, feeling well and progressing well,” Brogdon, who plays as a Shooting guard and Point guard for Indiana, said in his statement.

Sacramento power forward Parker said, “Several days ago I tested positive for COVID-19 and immediately self-isolated in Chicago which is where I remain. I am progressing in my recovery and feeling well.”

“I want to thank the Sacramento Kings for their great care and the NBA for putting the protocols in place to allow me to catch this early,” Len acknowledged.

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